This verse really made me think a little more about those old thorns.
And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof,
and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
It made me picture in my mind a run down home, covered by brush and thorns. It is neglected and uncared for, but the beauty is there, buried beneath the overgrown thorns, weeds and brush. Looking a little closer, I could see beautiful flowers trying to peek out, fruit hidden beneath the growth and such hidden potential. The lack of care may have been due to many reasons. Maybe the home was vacant, maybe the resident was old or ill, maybe they were too busy to keep it up, maybe they were too lazy, the reasons could be one of many.
Thorns grow where the land is not tended. There are areas in life that can be "overrun with thorns" if we don't tend them. An area of my life that I have not tended properly is my health. I have neglected a balanced diet with everyday fitness causing me to be overweight. The longer I put it off, and the more it is neglected the deeper the thorns grow and the harder it is to clear those thorns. If it would have been tended to the "growth" years ago, the thorns would not be as deep, the weight wouldn't be as much and healthy eating habits would have been established long ago. It is more difficult and will take more time from the years of neglect - but with the Lord's help - this untended body will become healthier and more fit every day.
Some people neglect their finances and quickly become overwhelmed by the lack of funds. Neglect or misuse of their money soon finds them in the middle of the briar patch. It is painful and difficult to find the way back to that clearing, but it can be done. Try to stop grabbing the thorns - avoid them - make the right choices and soon you will be back on that clear path that is so easy to walk. Praying for those in the middle of that patch - the Lord will help you out of the mess - follow His lead.
Our christian walk sometimes suffers from the other habits or thorns that dig into our time. The wasted hours on bad or even good habits that drew us back time after time. So many things can hold us and pull us away from our daily time with the Lord. Our talents become dull and fruits start to dry up from the lack of energy applied. Those moments with the Lord will help to enhance and grow our talents. Let your time with Him improve your hobby and talent, instead of letting your gift choke Him out.
Sometimes people are just flat out lazy, not working and then wondering how to get out of their sticky mess, wondering why they are homeless and jobless - but still not wanting to work. They get themselves in a terrible situation and become so hopeless.
The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.
Pride and disobedience will throw us head first into the briars.
Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
I don't know about you - but I have been pricked by thorns before and they hurt. I don't like it and don't want to repeat it. So many areas of our lives can get jabbed with "other types" of thorns. Sometimes we grab the barbs ourselves and other times they are shoved into us. I'm praying for each of us today, if we are in the middle of a patch of thorns that we begin climbing out of the patch and make it to a clear path.
Sometimes the thorns are not of our choosing, praying for these to be removed too.
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